The anti-aging weapon: antioxidants!
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are generally chemical compounds that prevent the process of oxidation in the body. You could say: They are little fighters in the body who fend off free radicals every day. If the concentration of free radicals in the body is particularly high, one speaks of oxidative stress. This results in cell and tissue damage that the body cannot easily repair. If the condition lasts longer, oxidative stress can impair the skin's natural ability to regenerate, stimulate the aging process and consequently accelerate the formation of wrinkles.
How do antioxidants work?
If you want to understand the mode of action of antioxidants, it is worth taking a look at their opponents: the free radicals. These are unstable molecules that lack an electron. The missing particles are snatched from healthy cells in the body - which are subsequently damaged. This process is called oxidation.
This is where antioxidants come in: By “voluntarily” releasing the missing electron, the radical scavengers quasi freeze free radicals and render them harmless.
How can I get antioxidants?
Our organism can produce some of its own antioxidants in the form of enzymes. Unfortunately, that's not enough to meet demand. The best way to get antioxidants is through a balanced diet with lots of fresh and crunchy ingredients. The greater the variety, the stronger the effect. The best-known antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E, carotenoids, the trace elements selenium and zinc as well as various secondary plant substances such as sulphides, phytoestrogens and polyphenols.
These foods contain a lot of antioxidants:
- Nuts
- citrus fruits
- avocados
- blackberry, blueberries
- dark chocolate chips
- Green tea
- coconut oil
- Onions and garlic
Does skin care with antioxidants make sense?
- When young, the skin is usually well protected by antioxidants. Because our body produces the protective substances itself, for example in the form of Q10.
- With increasing age, however, it produces less and less of it, increasing the potential for oxidative stress.
- Free radicals meet fewer and fewer antioxidants. This breaks down collagen and reduces the skin's ability to regenerate itself.
- To prevent oxidative damage, creams or serums with antioxidants are ideal. Anti-aging active ingredient formulas, such as those containing Q10 or vitamin C, can prevent premature skin aging.
Cream or prefer to eat antioxidants?
Simple answer: ideally both! Free radicals are caused by contact with light or air, so it makes sense to protect the skin with anti-aging care. Antioxidants sometimes even have multiple effects. In this way, vitamin E can strengthen the skin barrier and bind moisture. Vitamin C can boost collagen production and has a brightening effect.
Anitoxidants work best in combination - with care from the outside and appropriate nutrition from the inside. Lots of fruit, nuts and vegetables have a positive effect on your cells, grapes and tomatoes score with flavonoids, the plant's own defenses, which have a positive effect on your well-being. Berries, citrus fruits, pecans and radicchio are also considered cell protectors.
